Chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday announced waiver of cooperative loans taken by small and marginal farmers in the tribal sub-plan (TSP) area.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje increased interest subsidy from 5% to 7% for farmers of tribal sub-plan area who have taken long-term loans from cooperative land development banks and are paying instalments on time.(HT File Photo )

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Thursday announced waiver of cooperative loans taken by small and marginal farmers in the tribal sub-plan (TSP) area.

Agriculture loans from cooperative banks outstanding as on July 31, including principal, interest and penalty, will be waived off, Raje announced at a public meeting at Choti Sadri in Pratapgarh district. The CM has taken out Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra ahead of assembly elections due by the year-end.

She increased interest subsidy from 5% to 7% for farmers of TSP area who have taken long-term loans from cooperative land development banks and are paying instalments on time. “In 2018-19, the effective interest on long-term agricultural loans will be only 5.5% for farmers in this area,” Raje said.

The chief minister announced that BPL families in TSP area would be provided 50 units of domestic electricity free every month. “Agriculture (power) connection will be provided on demand to farmers having land less than one hectare land,” she said, addressing a state-level function organised by the tribal area development department at Pratapgarh.

Raje said every year August 9 will be a holiday to make the World Tribal Day memorable. She said community buildings named after Govind Guru, who was a social and religious reformer in tribal-dominated areas, will be constructed in all the 40 blocks in the TSP area.

Tribal development department minister Nand Lal Meena said, “Many departments and institutions were set up in the name of tribal welfare, but for the first time such a historic public programme is being organised at Pratapgarh on the initiative of the chief minister.”

Tribal artistes performed Swang and Gavri dance on the occasion. Raje felicitated meritorious students and winners in sports competitions. She gave Scooty to girl students of Class 10 and 12 who scored 65% and more.

In April this year, the Union Cabinet gave its approval for the inclusion of tribal-dominated areas in Rajasthan under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution to extend the protective measures under it to the tribals living in these areas.